Broken Hearted

I'm not sure what is worse: to lose two people you love in two short weeks like we, the family, did; or to have to go on without your partner, husband, best friend of 57 years, like MaryAnn would have.

Rest in MaryAnn and Bud.

You're together forever.

First Day of School Reflections

Actually these are reflections of my children's second day of school, but their first full day. I packed Narls' lunch and he caught his first ever school bus and we both made it though the day.

I adore that he wants to be a scientist :)

Her favorite shows (well, movies) are those that we're watching together. Love that. 

And her mixing of animal prints? Fierce.

Last year. THEIR TINY BABY FACES.

How about we take a break from the constant growing, huh kiddos? Sigh.

Be Still My Heart

My heart left this morning on a big yellow bus. 
It gets easier, right?

Back to School

School supplies are bought...

new clothes are laid out...

teeth are brushed and hair is combed...

and my preschooler and kindergartner are officially ready for their first day of school.

Monthly Meal Planning

First of 'da month.
Wake up, wake up.... oh, sorry.

I've literally spent all morning pulling this week's recipe cards and ingredient lists, grocery shopping, then assembling this week's (and month's!) meals.  A few hours on a Sunday morning saves me so. much. time! during the week, which is especially important with school starting in a few days.

 

I've made monthly batches of french toast, pancakes, and waffles for the kids' breakfasts,

 a week's worth of overnight oats for my breakfasts,

and a week's worth of oatmeal smoothies for Clay's breakfasts.

I've got a system down.  For right around $100-$125 a week, I'm able to get the fresh & healthy ingredients needed to make all of our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the week.

And it's totally paying off, even my husband is noticing.  

I've made dinners such as:

pasta with asparagus and feta and a side of roasted brussel sprouts...

individual-sized tilapia fillets with spinach & grape tomatoes baked in foil...

vegetable lasagna (which is turning out to be my specialty)...

and I'm even finding ways to make our processed favorites (like frozen taquitos, YUM) into healthy homemade versions (which are just as YUM, well even more so considering they're less calories).

Win win :)